A Regional Fire Authority Voted Against

Yakima ended its two-year study of a regional fire authority by voting against the idea during a Tuesday study session. Yakima Fire Chief Dave Wilson says The Regional Fire Authority would have created an umbrella department that covered Yakima, Union Gap as well as Fire Districts 10 and 11. The RFA work group's final report indicated the new department would be feasible.

Some Yakima leaders did not like the idea of raising new taxes and fees to pay for it. Some city council members also opposed joining the authority without including West Valley. But, West Valley opted out of the plan early in the process. For now nothing changes. City officials say the concept of a regional fire authority could be revisited in a few years.